Vietnam - Singapore: Connection, Integration and Mutual Development

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Singapore, the VietnamTimes Magazine introduces to our readers an article by Ambassador Nguyen Duc Hung, Vice President - General Secretary of the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association , former Ambassador of Vietnam to Singapore.

Similarities in strategic interests

For Vietnam, the idea of ​​"making friends with all countries" has been proclaimed by President Ho Chi Minh since the early years of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Vietnam's foreign policy was first mentioned by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 29th Diplomatic Conference (August 2016) that "Foreign affairs activities have made glorious achievements, built a unique school of diplomacy, imbued with the identity of "Vietnamese bamboo" - gentle but tough, compassionate but resilient, flexible yet valid, understand the times and context, understand itself and others." Heed at the National Foreign Affairs Conference to implement the 13th Party Congress's Resolution (December 2021) that: "We have built a very special and unique school of foreign affairs and diplomacy of the Ho Chi Minh era, imbued with the identity of " Vietnamese bamboo", which has "solid root, firm body, flexible branches," imbued with the soul and character.

Ambassador Nguyen Duc Hung, Vice President - General Secretary of the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association (Photo: Nguyen Duc Hung).

For Singapore, late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's perspective has left a deep impression and influence. According to Prof. Ang Cheng Guan, Dean of the Faculty of International Studies, S. Rajaratnam School, NTU Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew finds the existence of small countries like Singapore is always associated with the stability and prosperity of the neighboring countries and the dynamic balance and economic interaction among great powers.

He was consistent with the basic principles of his foreign philosophy: Singapore needs to be flexible and alert in any arrangement or change in the balance of power, and also be extremely consistent in its stance on the balance of power, the relationship between economy - politics , and the role of great powers in the international relations system,

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, an excellent successor to Lee Kuan Yew, said in his speech on Singapore's international relations and foreign policy (November 27, 2015): Singapore's foreign policy is a balance between realism and idealism, understanding what are fundamental interests, which in fact have not changed during the past 50 years. They include world peace, an international order in which states respect and abide by international law; establishing a network of friends and allies with which Singapore can work; having a stable and secure Asia-Pacific region, especially Southeast Asia; and finally, upholding the country's sovereignty and right to decide its own the future.

In the international arena, Singapore has to be an active, constructive member, seeking to bring added value to the international community and make Singapore important to other countries. In the region, Singapore must find common ground with its neighbors. The success of Singapore, whether at home or abroad, depends on the unity of the people and the firm belief that Singapore will be able to endure and excel.

Vietnam - Singapore economic cooperation: a bright spot in the region

The similarity in the foresight of the two countries' leaders towards each country's destiny and the region's future, and the strategic interests of each country

in the context of strong changes in geopolitics, and geo-economics The spirit of self-reliance and the strong desire to rise up of the two peoples has become a common denominator, a great driving force to create a solid step in the two countries' relations over the past half-century, especially in the recent years first decade of the 21st century.

in the context of significant geo-political and geo-economic changes, the spirit of self-reliance and the strong desire to immerse are the common denominator and great motivation to create steady steps in the bilateral relations during the past half-century, especially in the early decades of the 21st century.

Ambassador Nguyen Duc Hung (sixth from left) and the delegation of the Singapore Embassy in Vietnam visited Vinh Phuc ICD Logistics Center in May 2023 (Photo: Thanh Luan).

Singapore is Vietnam's important economic partner, currently rank first among ASEAN countries and second worldwide in terms of investment with a total capital of USD 70.8 billion, accounting for 22.9% of total registered FDI capital. Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) continues to operate with high efficiency and stand as a symbol of success in investment cooperation. There are currently 12 VSIPs in nine provinces and cities of Vietnam covering a total area of ​​about 7,517ha. VSIPs came into operation with high occupancy rates, attracting USD 17.6 billion in total investment capital and creating jobs for nearly 300,000 direct employees.

Recently, the two sides cooperated to start promoting a Superport in Binh Xuyen, Vinh Phuc, which contributes to the receipt, clearance, and quick release of goods via air, road, and waterway, a project belonging to the ASEAN Smart Logistic Network (ASEAN Smart Logistic Network) Smart Logistic Network). After VSIP, Superport will probably be a success story, a new symbol of economic connectivity and cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam and Singapore are both members of new-generation free trade agreements, namely the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). On the basis of a common perception of the complementarity of the two economies, Vietnam and Singapore promote trade agreements that the two countries are members to enhance cooperation and contribute to the post-pandemic economic recovery of each country and the region.

Vietnam and Singapore also work closely at participating organizations and forums, such as the United Nations, ASEAN, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), as well as in regional and international issues of mutual concern.The two sides agreeing their determination to actively contribute to building a strong and united ASEAN Community, promoting the central role and general voice of the Association in regional and international issues.

People-to-people exchange relations between the two countries have been a focus since Vietnam joined ASEAN (1995). But since the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations established the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association (VSFA - 2014), the people-to-people relations with Singapore have really grown enormously and expanded on the basis of implementing cooperation agreements to create legal corridors, along with many specific cooperation projects in the fields of charity, humanitarian, education, healthcare, cultural exchange, support to organize trade promotion and investment forums to connect businesses of the two sides.

VSFA's people-to-people exchange programs and activities aim to continuously enhance understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries and serve the socio-economic development programs and priorities of the two countries in general and locally in particular, contributing to deepening the content of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

2023 marks an important milestone in Vietnam - Singapore relations. Together, the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership with a focus on strengthening political trust, continuing to take concrete and practical measures to expand and improve the efficiency of connecting the two economies, support each other to build an independent, self-reliant and integrated economy and deepening international integration, creating a stronger new impetus to bring the two countries relations to a new height.

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